A cross section of Ikot Abasi stakeholders during the press briefing
The people of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area have raised alarm over activities of Sterling Petrochemical and Fertilizer Limited (SPFL).
The people who spoke through Mboho Ikot Abasi, the apex socio-cultural organization and mouth piece of the people of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, in a press conference held in Uyo on August 15, said SPFL has engaged in acts that amount to gross violations of people’s sensibilities, environmental, social, and economic rights, without due recourse to established legal and customary procedures.
The President General of the group, Mkpisong Chelly Okoko who read the text of the press conference on behalf of the people, noted that attempt by the company to put up a gate on a public highway and major access to the Atlantic coastline is most unacceptable and condemnable by the people of Ikot Abasi which he said will be resisted vehemently.
“On Wednesday 30th July 2025 Sterling Petrochemical and Fertilizer Limited (SPFL) commenced construction of a permanent barricade blocking access to Okopedi road which leads to several other communities of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
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“We regret to inform the whole world that this company has, over time, engaged in acts that amount to gross violations of our sensibilities, environmental, social, and economic rights, without due recourse to established legal and customary procedures.
“The audacious effrontery of attempting to put up a gate on a public highway and our major access to the Atlantic coastline is most unacceptable and condemnable by the people of Ikot Abasi and we will resist it vehemently.
“Notably on May 17, 2021, Sterling Patrochemical and Fertilizer Limited (SPFL), accompanied by heavily armed police, army, and naval personnel, forcefully entered ancestral lands belonging to communities in Ikot Abasi. Using heavy-duty machinery including bulldozers and caterpillars, they destroyed economic trees, crops, residential structures, and vital vegetation, resulting in massive environmental degradation and disruption of the local ecosystem. This action was taken without notice, dialogue, or consent from the indigenous landowners of Ikot Abasi.
“This unlawful act and impunity largely affect Ukpum Ete, Ikpa Nnung Assang, Ikpa Ibekwe and other clans of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area leading to repeated community unrest, including tragic loss of lives and brutalization of citizens.
“We totally reject the SPFL/affiliate companies provocative Host Community Development Trust HCDT scheme that so invidiously exclude some integral parts of Ikot Abasi in its Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) Scheme. This brazen attempt at divide-and-rule on a people long committed to a monolithic Ikot Abasi community is emphatically unacceptable to us and we demand that Ikot Abasi LGA be wholly and completely captured in the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) as one and indivisible entity.
“SPFL has persistently engaged in unfair labor practices, particularly in the recruitment and remuneration of workers. Jobs that should be easily performed by skilled local residents are often assigned to non-indigenes after which they will be fraudulently classified as being from Ikot Abasi communities. Additionally, there is a glaring disparity in wages, with workers in Akwa Ibom reportedly earning far less than their counterparts from Lagos and other states. From
“Despite our letter dated 9th March 2022, the company has refused to conduct and submit any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as required by law before commencing operations in Ikot Abasi lands. This blatant disregard for environmental safety laws of Nigeria and that of Akwa Ibom State is unacceptable as it shrouds the immediate and long term environmental and socio-economic impacts of SPFL and affiliate companies activities in secrecy.
“SPFL is violating the Environmental laws to avoid taking environmental and socio-economic responsibilities that will arise from their industrial activities in Ikot Abasi LGA.
“Consequently, we hereby put Sterling Petrochemical & fertilizer Limited (SPFL) and their affiliate companies on notice that henceforth, Ikot Abasi people will no longer tolerate or condone these unlawful activities and suppression of our people under any circumstances.
“We call on the State Government to call Sterling Petrochemical and Fertilizer Limited SPFL and their affiliate companies to order to forestall complete breakdown of law and order.”
